Hank Haney questions Bernhard Langer's Putting

[Vinsk]

http://www.golfdigest.com/story/hank-haney-rekindles-debate-over-the-legality-of-bernhard-langers-putting-stroke

The video does seem to show BL's hand touching his shirt/chest...and appears to be 'anchored.' What do you guys think? Haney asks: "What is anchoring?"

[coachjimsc]

His forearm sure does appear to be touching his chest and not really moving during his stroke in the video.

Definitely doesn't look like this...

Edited June 1, 2017 by coachjimsc

[Vinsk]

I think Haney has a good point here. I don't believe BL is within the rules on his technique. Curious if anything will come of this. 

[rehmwa]

Pros with this stroke will have to start wearing tight shirts going forward to keep the accusations away.  I cringe when I think about some players in tight shirts...

[Groucho Valentine]

I thought the rule was only the club was not allowed to be anchored to the body? It doesn't appear Langer does that. Can you argue that you cant anchor yourself to yourself? Seems weird. 

[coachjimsc]

15 minutes ago, Groucho Valentine said:

I thought the rule was only the club was not allowed to be anchored to the body? It doesn't appear Langer does that. Can you argue that you cant anchor yourself to yourself? Seems weird. 

The offical rule 14-1b...

b. Anchoring the Club
In making a stroke, the player must not anchor the club, either "directly" or by use of an "anchor point."

Note 1: The club is anchored "directly" when the player intentionally holds the club or a gripping hand in contact with any part of his body, except that the player may hold the club or a gripping hand against a hand or forearm.

Note 2: An "anchor point" exists when the player intentionally holds a forearm in contact with any part of his body to establish a gripping hand as a stable point around which the other hand may swing the club.

Sure looks very similar to what BL did in the video.

That's assuming in the video he is actually making a stroke during tournament play.

 

[Groucho Valentine]

7 minutes ago, coachjimsc said:

The offical rule 14-1b...

b. Anchoring the Club
In making a stroke, the player must not anchor the club, either "directly" or by use of an "anchor point."

Note 1: The club is anchored "directly" when the player intentionally holds the club or a gripping hand in contact with any part of his body, except that the player may hold the club or a gripping hand against a hand or forearm.

Note 2: An "anchor point" exists when the player intentionally holds a forearm in contact with any part of his body to establish a gripping hand as a stable point around which the other hand may swing the club.

Sure looks very similar to what BL did in the video.

That's assuming in the video he is actually making a stroke during tournament play.

 

It certainly does by that explanation. 

[Golfingdad]

57 minutes ago, Groucho Valentine said:

I thought the rule was only the club was not allowed to be anchored to the body? It doesn't appear Langer does that. Can you argue that you cant anchor yourself to yourself? Seems weird. 

I posted about this yesterday as well over here, and included the handy graphic that they put out with the rule change: 

[iacas]

 

Was that from a stroke?

What does the rest of the stroke look like? How loose is his shirt?

[coachjimsc]

I have the USGA on speed dial...Is the tournament over? 

[Golfingdad]

1 hour ago, iacas said:

 

Was that from a stroke?

What does the rest of the stroke look like? How loose is his shirt?

Honestly, based on the sequence of the video on Haney's tweet, it looks like it's a practice stroke.  Here's an article with a link to the (very short) video: http://www.golf.com/tour-news/2017/05/31/hank-haney-takes-twitter-question-bernhard-langers-putting-style

[iacas]

6 minutes ago, Golfingdad said:

Honestly, based on the sequence of the video on Haney's tweet, it looks like it's a practice stroke.  Here's an article with a link to the (very short) video: http://www.golf.com/tour-news/2017/05/31/hank-haney-takes-twitter-question-bernhard-langers-putting-style

That's the ultimate question… If it's a practice stroke (maybe it is?), then who cares? If it's an actual stroke, I'd say he violated the rules.

[Aflighter]

The video looks like a practice stroke and I think u can clearly see his forearm is pressed against his chest by the way the shirt creases. Personally I feel everything is anchored anyways cause hell your arms are attached to your shoulders.Are we gonna measure how much of flesh on arm can touch chest? Im guessing anything below elbow is illegal or is the elbow touching illegal too. 

1 hour ago, iacas said:

 

Was that from a stroke?

What does the rest of the stroke look like? How loose is his shirt?

Doesnt matter how loose that shirt is, you can see the crease pressed in between his forearm and chest and its not moving cause it is pressed.

[Vinsk]

Well I dunno ....looks like his arm is touching his body...this is from an actual stroke during play...it's just a photo...but in action as the ball is seen there.

[iacas]

4 minutes ago, Vinsk said:

Well I dunno ....looks like his arm is touching his body...this is from an actual stroke during play...it's just a photo...but in action as the ball is seen there.

 

That's the video. It's likewise murky as to whether it's a practice swing or a real stroke.

[Vinsk]

http://www.golfdigest.com/story/the-rosaforte-report-bernhard-langers-new-putting-stroke-has-people-talking

 

This still photo shows him just after making a stroke in play....his forearm looks like it's touching his chest to me.

[iacas]

7 minutes ago, Vinsk said:

http://www.golfdigest.com/story/the-rosaforte-report-bernhard-langers-new-putting-stroke-has-people-talking

That's from February.

I watched him then and he seemed to be doing what he said - completely taking his hand and forearm off his chest. The video is from the last event.

So some are thinking that he's gotten lazy or changed his method, and the "new" method may be in violation.

[MRR]

The video posted in #15 shows;

1) While making the stroke, there is a wrinkle in the shirt that is supported by the arm,

2) After the arm moves very slightly away from the body, the shirt "falls" and the wrinkle comes out.

It appears to me that the weight and drape of the shirt is enough to not allow such a wrinkle unless the arm was actually pressed against the body.